Fuel cell, electrode for fuel cell, and manufacturing method of electrode for fuel cell

Abstract

A fuel cell includes a first electrode to be used as a fuel electrode provided with a fuel gas including hydrogen, a second electrode to be used as an oxidant electrode provided with a oxidizing gas including oxygen, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane held between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the fuel cell, either the first electrode or the second electrode is formed by a gas diffusion layer compressed in the thickness direction of the gas diffusion layer in a pressing process.

What is claimed is  
     
         1 . A fuel cell comprising: 
 a first electrode to be used as a fuel electrode provided with a fuel gas including hydrogen;    a second electrode to be used as an oxidant electrode provided with a oxidizing gas including oxygen; and    a solid polymer electrolyte, membrane held between the first electrode and the second electrode,    wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed by a gas diffusion layer compressed in the thickness direction of the gas diffusion layer in a pressing process.    
     
     
         2 . An electrode of a fuel cell for forming any one of a first electrode as a fuel electrode provided with hydrogen and a second electrode as an oxidant electrode provided with oxygen, wherein the electrode includes a gas diffusion layer compressed in the thickness direction of the gas diffusion layer in a pressing process.  
     
     
         3 . The electrode of the fuel cell according to  claim 2 , wherein the gas diffusion layer which is not compressed in the pressing process includes a substrate fiber having conductivity and a graphite of which particle is shaped like a flake having a large aspect ratio, and a material for binding the substrate fiber on the graphite.  
     
     
         4 . A manufacturing method of and electrode for a fuel cell including a pressing process for pressing a gas diffusion layer, which forms any one of a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode for the fuel cell, with a pressing means for pressing in the thickness direction of the gas diffusion layer, wherein the gas diffusion layer previously has a permeability determined to be higher than a target permeability.  
     
     
         5 . The manufacturing method of the electrode for the fuel cell according to  claim 4 , wherein the pressing process is a hot pressing.  
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing method of the electrode for the fuel cell according to any one of  claim 4  and  claim 5 , wherein a mold release material is disposed between the gas diffusion layer and a pressing face of the pressing means.